Because We Love You

Dear Joannie, Nic (Nicasio formerly) and JP (Pepito formerly) you're all growing up so fast! Joannie you're growing into a confident young lady. You're already like a little Ate May, watching out for the little ones around you. Nic you're becoming a thoughtful young man. :) and JP still cheeky but you're learning to share.

Joannie don't be afraid to share the great love you have for Jesus with others! Life's going to be different from here on. High school can be challenging, especially with the "fraternities" and peer pressure. When things get tough, always remember your dreams! You've come this far! You've already achieved what you once thought was impossible! Keep on working towards your dreams. We'll always be here to give you the support you need :)

Nic I know life's been hard for you. You've lost the people you love most and I know you still miss them. It's also not been so easy to adjust to this new life and to the new school. No more Paaralang Pantao. But you know what? You inspire me! Because with every obstacle you meet, you've put your trust in Jesus and you prayed "Jesus don't abandon me". And He's not abandoned you. He never will and we won't either. Thank you for giving Singapura a place to call home too :)

JP I can recognise your laugh anywhere anytime. You know why? Cos you're special. There's only one JP and no one can ever replace you. I know you've missed out on so many things before and I know you want so many things now. Sometimes you get upset because Ate May or I say "no". We say "no" because we love you. Maybe you don't understand why we don't give you everything you want, but someday you will. We love you and that's why we helped you get rid of the 1000 ants in your drawer and washed your clothes for you :) and hug you when you're sad. and send you to school and sometimes we scold you only because we want the best for you. We are your family and this is a place you can always call home :)

You know what else? Kuya Alvin is so happy to be with all of you. I never see him smile so much! haha :) and NO he's not angry, he's just quiet! He never washed clothes before but he did it for JP! Wow! and the next time he comes back he'll even cook fried chicken for all of you! :)

Nic and JP, be good ok??? :)

I hope the 3 of you will stick together through thick and thin and keep on supporting each other and always be there for Jovelyn too. Jovelyn I was so touched when you responded when I talked to you! I know you're not ready yet. But I know someday when you're ready you'll talk and step out to see the world. I want to take you to Ate May's place in Bataan where the sea is so beautiful. Where you can see fishing boats and walk on the beach. I hope we can all go with you one day :)

I'll see you very soon for ice-cream... :)

Introducing our Fire House (Payatas)

Dear friends,
acts29 is happy to introduce to your our communinty home, Fire House. We rented a small unit, just 20sqm, in Payatas this March and welcomed our 1st few residents.

We were at 1st stunned at the choice of name. We had asked our little residents to come up with a name, expecting more traditional choices. However the name Fire House was chosen by these somewhat prophetic and contemplative residents.

On deeper reflection the name aptly reminds us of the presence of God in all our lives. The symbol of fire throughout the Old and New Testatment represents the presence of God's glory. In the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit when what seemed like tongues of fire descended upon them. 6 years ago at the beginning of our mission, we recognised the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Our Fire House members have also recognised the same Holy Spirit working in their lives.

None of us expected that when we first said "Yes" to Jesus (to let the little ones come to Him or when we 1st commited to the food project), we would one day be saying "Yes" to our Fire House.

Our House is first and foremost a sanctuary, a place of refuge. It is a shelter for tired and weary little feet, for coarse rough little hands, for broken hearts and broken dreams looking for healing and a new life, a new beginning. 4 pairs or feet, 4 pairs of hands, 4 broken hearts walked through the door of this House in March and began a new life, a life filled with hope.

We've only just begun. With your support and prayers, we'll continue to provide shelter, food and family structure through our community house to homeless and at-risk children and teens.

It is with our sincerest and deepest gratitude to each and everyone of our extended community, all those who have been supporting us... that we wish to say THANK YOU - for your prayer, for your word of affirmation, for buying our t-shirts or bakwa, your donation, your pledge to our food project and to the education sponsorship, your time to read this blog or our website and for sharing our mission with others. Thank you for saying "Yes" to this call to serve. However little you may think you have contributed to our mission, it has gone a long way to make Jesus known and loved through the 100 kids we serve every day at 1pm (lunch), through the kids recently baptised and to be baptised this year, through the TB kids who are on the road to recovery, through the kids who are saying NO to drugs, through the kids who now have birth certificates and are getting ready for formal school this June, and through the 4 lives who now have a home, a hope and a future.

Thanks be to God!

Ps/ Photos of our Fire House will be uploaded next week when we're back from Payatas

Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes lord

This is a recent reflection of Mayb (Payatas Coordinator) which echoes very much our thoughts and feelings in the mission. Thank you May! :)

Dear Lord,
It’s been more than 3 years since the very day I said YES to Your call to serve. Tonight I hear a voice in my heart, asking how things have been, how Your love has been revealed. I recalled the many fears I have when I said, okay Lord. YES, I recalled the uneasy feelings, the insecurities as I trek the road to the school. My playful heart imagined a scene that the things around me are not as what they may seem to be. Perhaps beneath the dark and dirty creek that I see was a blue river, perhaps beneath the shabby ragged men and women were noble and valiant people. Perhaps within the frail and under nourished kid is a wise individual. Perhaps beneath the poverty lies an abundance of some sort of a thing. I remember breathing within me hope. I remember telling You, I surrender, I let go. Make me Your instrument. I remember the thought, Your words, You are near, You are in everything.
You led me to many tiny hearts. I survived the deepest pains because you showed me their smiles, their hearts - full of simplicity, full of acceptance, full of contentment. I envied them at the same time a part of me, wanted to carry them far away from what seemed to be real. Muddy, dirty, poor, sad, weak; what others say hopeless realities. Yet thinking about what lies beyond this seeming poverty helped me Lord in the journey. Yes Lord, You are always greater. You are always beyond what my senses can offer. You helped me wonder, You helped me touched the things I can’t imagine to hold. Sometimes, you helped me walked on water and witnessed heartfelt miracles. You woke me up in the reality of Hope and the reality that with every insecurity lies a mightier and greater Truth, which you have revealed to the young, to the weak and the poor. And tonight I remember how You have held me tightly through the gift of this community, to the many hands and fateful encounters. You have brought me to a paradise full of little hearts and flickers of lights. You are greater than all things. You are our strength and courage. You are our patience and refuge. So keep me. Hold me. Help me remember the wonderful moments that You graced me in this journey.

And we continue to say Yes to this call to serve